Destroyers Aim all Guns at San Jose
Matt Krueger
Saturday July 22, 2000
Coach Ray Bentley informed his team of the playoff possibilities earlier this week, but said that was the last time they would talk about it. They are preparing for San Jose like any other game.
“We can’t get caught up in different scenarios and things that may happen,” Bentley said. “We could actually go out and win this game, and it wouldn’t change a thing as far as who we end up playing in the playoffs. We’re not worried about that.”
After Buffalo’s 60-52 victory over Los Angeles last week, the Destroyers were guaranteed, at least, the twelfth seed. Coming into week 15, a Buffalo win and losses by Milwaukee and Grand Rapids would catapult Bentley’s team into the tenth seed.
Bentley hasn’t forgotten about the playoffs entirely, however. He said he understands the ramifications of what’s riding on this game not only for his team, but for the opponents as well.
“They’ll (San Jose) be fighting for the top seed in the playoffs,” Bentley said. They’ll be fighting for a division championship, so the game means a lot to them.”
Aware of the 61-35 stomping San Jose gave Buffalo in week seven, the Destroyers aren’t exactly looking for revenge.
“We haven’t really focused too much on paybacks in regards to San Jose,” Bentley said. “This game means enough from a lot of other standpoints. However, they did put a good whooping on us. We were down 47-7 at one point. I don’t know if you can get thrashed worse than that.”
Buffalo’s general on the field, Browning Nagle, has been hot lately. Last week he set team records for most thrown touchdowns (7) and most passing yards (381).
“Browning Nagle is playing outstanding right now,” Bentley said. “He’s kind of got himself in a zone, and the other people around him are doing what they need to do for him to succeed. I’m trying not to even talk to him or look at him. I don’t want to get him out of his rhythm and his zone that he’s in.”
Nagle and the other Destroyers will have to play flawlessly this week, according to Bentley, to get past the dominating Sabercats.
“What I have noticed about them (San Jose) is that they don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Bentley said. “That means that our margin of error is very slim this week. They don’t beat themselves, so that’s really the challenge for us. We have to play error free and that will give us a chance.”
Despite the 5-8 record, Bentley said Buffalo is a team to be reckoned with both this week and in the playoffs.
“I think we’re a dangerous football team, because we play hard,” he said. “To me, if you get a football team that’s going to play hard every time, that’s a dangerous football team. You’re going to win more than lose when you’re playing hard, physical football.”
While San Jose is ranked higher than Buffalo in every major category, the streaking Destroyers are excited about showing what they can do.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us across the board, offensively, defensively and at special teams,” Bentley said. “We look forward to that.”
Matt Krueger was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
